Had baby 3 weeks ago - Why can't I workout?

I just had my baby about 3 weeks ago. My first OB told me I could start working out 2 or 3 weeks after delivery... not heavy lifting, of course, just cardio, which is really all I want to do right now. However, I was transferred to a different OB in my 37th week of pregnancy and he told me I couldn't workout until about 6 or 7 weeks after delivery. Why the hell not?

I just want to do some elliptical training. Would that be so bad to do right now, or is it important that I keep from working out until after I stop bleeding?

As far as I know most OB's recommend starting exercise as soon as you can.  However there are some factors - did you have a cesarean or regular delivery??  If you had a cesarean then waiting the 6-7 weeks would be practical - however if you had a normal delivery I can't see why you would have to wait - did you receive a lot of stitches??  Which in any case after 3 weeks you should be starting to feel more comfortable now anyway.  Just remember especially if you are breastfeeding, to keep eating.  I know your probably anxious to lose any leftover pregnancy pounds but don't overdo it - as a new mum you'll need the extra energy for some sleepless nights and it takes more than 3 weeks for your body to recover from a birth - its very exciting and its also a hard job - and don't forget if your breastfeeding to make sure your taking in enough calories and liquids.

I'll stress I'm DEFINITELY NOT a doctor - just a mum of 2 and someone who has a soft spot for pregnancy and birth and reads a lot about it!

Hope I was able to help

My OB said at my 3 week postpartum appt (i had to go at 3 weeks after i had the baby because he was making sure my blood pressure was ok:) He said if i wanted to then i could start walking and adding exercise back into my life again.  He didn't give me the ok for tae-bo or aeorbics til about my 6th week postpartum appt.  You need to give your body time to recup after childbirth!! But that's about it. 

 

Clarice

I was told that I could do light aerobic exercise pretty much immediately.. (with a normal delivery)

Well about 4 weeks post partum I started jogging and doing my elliptical (which I consider light exercise) and that was too much and I had to stop because I started bleeding ALOT more..

Your body is working on repairing itself so you should let it repair and dont do any real work outs because that just messes with your body.

I found out that just walking with the baby in my jogging stroller was the only light exercise that didnt make me bleed more, and I still lost weight with that :)

Im no doctor either just speaking from experience. 

good luck and congratulations !

you should be able to do whatever you feel comfortable doing. A little bit of exercise is going to be good for you. However, make sure you listen to your body and don't over do it or you can end up with serious complications.  After I had DD I jumped right into strenuous workouts and ended up hurting myself. I now have a stitch that refuses to fall out, I'm not sure if I caused that by working out or not, but in 3 weeks I'll have to have it burned off if it doesn't come out on it's own.

I can think of several reasons not to do anything much more than walking for the first 6 weeks.   For instance,  With my first baby,  I went into walmart grabbed a pack of diapers and left.  I was dropped off at the door and picked up at the door.  3 am the next morning, I woke up hermaging.   It was bad.  I do mean bad.  I lost so much blood I couldn't hold my head up above chest level without blacking out.  

You never know  how your body is going to react to things.  If your doctor told you not to until 6 weeks he may just being cautious, or he may have noticed something your first doctor didn't.  If it bothers you that much ask him why.  Explain that your first doctor said you could, and you were just wondering what changed.